This story is part of the series 5 Things to Know

5 things you need to know Wednesday

Editors, USA TODAY
8:07 a.m. PST March 5, 2014

This image provided by NASA/JPL-Caltech shows a simulation of asteroid 2012 DA14 approaching from the south as it passes through the Earth-moon system. Asteroid 2014 DX110 will pass by Earth Wednesday.(Photo: AP)

An asteroid named 2014 DX110 passes relatively close to Earth today — 217,000 miles away — but should be no danger. NASA's Near Earth Object Program Earth impact Risk Survey puts it at a one in 10,000,000 chance of hitting Earth.

Beige Book out

The Federal Reserve releases its Beige Book today, a survey of the economy by region. Find out which ones look sunny or seem cloudy. We explain at usatoday.com/money.

Obama travels to New England today

President Obama plans to stump for a minimum wage hike during a speech in Connecticut and to help raise campaign money for Democratic candidates during a stop in Boston.

Ash Wednesday

We hope your Fat Tuesday was gluttonous. Today is Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent in the Western Christian calendar, and the beginning of 40 days of prayer and fasting.

Crisis in Ukraine

Secretary of State John Kerry is in Paris ostensibly for a planned conference on Lebanon, but he will also meet his Ukrainian counterpart Andriy Deshchytsia to discuss the ongoing crisis in that country.